LVAD is an option Edward Hospital doctors have available to treat patients with advanced heart failure. LVAD stands for Left Ventricle Assist Device. It is a mechanical device that circulates blood throughout the body when the heart is too weak to pump blood adequately on its own. Edward is the only community hospital in Chicagoland providing this type of mechanical circulatory support as a non-transplant program.
VIDEO: HOW DOES IT WORK? WATCH THE HEARTMATE II LVAD ANIMATION.
Edward's Thoratec HeartMate II LVAD can be used to treat a variety of advanced heart failure conditions:
Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
Viral cardiomyopathy
Peripartum and postpartum cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
MyocarditisValvular disease
Congenital heart disease
How does it work?
The HeartMate II LVAD is designed to supplement the pumping function of the heart. The device is placed just below the diaphragm in the abdomen. It is attached to the left ventricle, and the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the entire body. An external, wearable system that includes a small controller and two batteries is attached by an external driveline. The wearable system is either worn under or on top of clothing.
PATIENT STORIES: KENNETH CLOWERS & WIFE, JEAN, OF EARLVILLE HAD THE LVAD PROCEDURE AT EDWARD HOSPITAL. READ HIS STORY.
How does it help the heart failure patient?
The HeartMate II LVAD is designed to restore blood flow throughout the body, enabling the patient to breathe more easily and feel less fatigued. The patient's organs will receive more blood than they did before receiving the LVAD, and this will likely improve their organ function. After receiving an LVAD, patients generally feel more energetic and are able to resume normal activities that they were unable to do prior to receiving the device.
